Joakim Noah Set to Join France’s National Team

With his status for Eurobasket 2011 in limbo, reports indicate Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah is recovering well from a prior ankle injury and will join his France teammates later this week. From the AP:“The French Basketball Federation says Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah is recovering from a troublesome ankle problem and should be ready to join France later this week. Noah has been receiving treatment on his right ankle in Los Angeles. The team doctor for the Bulls and the French team’s physician are pleased by the way the ankle has responded to the treatment. ‘There’s been good progress, and Joakim seems to have recovered well from the little problem he had,’ team director Patrick Beesley said on the team’s website. ‘I am optimistic that he will be in Pau by the end of the week.’ The FFBB said on its website that ‘after seeing the conclusions from the two specialists, the franchise (Chicago Bulls) doctor should give his accord for Joakim Noah to return to the France team, without having to go to Chicago.’ France is training in Pau this week ahead of the European Championships. France will play Latvia on Aug. 31.”